In all hiring processes, only a few will be selected, and a majority may miss the opportunity. However, when the communication reaches the candidates who missed out on the chance, they are likely to feel hurt at first.
But you can turn that frustration into an opportunity by writing a thank you email after rejection expressing your delight in having gone through the selection procedure and screening tests, along with a note of gratitude to the hiring manager.
Is Replying To a Rejection Email Necessary?
The rationale for replying to a rejection mail is that it can be turned into a long-term investment as a professional connection with the concerned hiring manager. You gain a lot from an innocuous email as it will reveal your professional outlook, openness to new ideas, presence of mind in adverse situations, willingness to learn, willingness to absorb feedback and criticism, and modify to suit the changes in the work environment.
How to Professionally Respond to a Rejection Mail?
There are so many advantages in writing a thank you email after rejection as it will outweigh the frustration and stand out as a positive initiative highlighting your integrity and honesty. Never forget to keep the tone positive and friendly, and you should not express any malice or harsh criticism in the mail. There are many things you can be thankful for–time, information, and hospitality, including an office tour or a good lunch.
While writing the thank you email after rejection, you can pacify yourself that even if you are not fit for the position at present, something better may also emerge in the months to come. If you are gracious enough in your thank-you letter, there is every chance of you becoming a front-line candidate for some new role.
Follow-Up/Thank You Emails After Rejection [10 Templates]
Now let us go through some significant templates for follow-up emails after a rejection letter. These templates show how to communicate and what to express in your thank you email after rejection.
1. A Simple Email You Can Write After the Rejection Letter
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you for informing me of your hiring decision. Despite some disappointment, I appreciate your greatness in offering me an opportunity and spending your valuable time in considering my application and at the interview.
I would be very thankful if you could give some feedback on my application and what you felt about my performance during the interview. I have always wanted to put my best foot forward and boost my career goals with an opportunity to work with an incredible company like yours. I will certainly look forward to the next opportunity to apply to your company.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
2. A Humble Follow-Up Mail After Job Rejection
This thank you email after rejection will impress any hiring manager as the tone is very professional and candid.
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
It was a real privilege to attend the interview, and I thank you for the time you took to consider my application and the way you explained the efforts sought by the role. Although I was a bit disappointed when I read about your decision, I am nonetheless grateful and hope our paths will soon cross again.
I would request you consider me for an upcoming position if that is a good fit for my skills. I am impressed by your company’s reputation and very passionate about the industry where your company is doing well. Thanking you once again for your consideration.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
3. A Brief Follow-Up Mail After the Job Rejection Letter
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you for informing me that your hiring process is over now, and I like to record my good wishes for you and the new person. Though I am a bit disappointed about not being selected, I wanted to register my sincere gratitude for the time you took out in interviewing me and sharing the details about the role.
I will strive more to secure a berth in your company by reworking my skill sets, and I hope my passion and expertise will ultimately become the best fit for your popular company.
I request you keep me in mind whenever new opportunities come up.
All the best,
[Your name]
4. A Crisp Follow-Up Email After Job Rejection
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
I wish you the very best in going ahead with the incumbent for the position. I appreciate your time holding a meeting with me and interacting with me during the interview.
In this email, I wanted to let you know that I am interested in future roles in your company, and I request you contact me if I am a good fit for the role.
Best regards,
[Your name]
5. Conversational Follow-Up Email After Job Rejection
This thank you email after rejection is very informal, and the friendly tone will help build an easy rapport with the hiring manager.
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you very much for communicating your hiring decision. I accept it and would request you consider me for future roles if my skills match any position at your company. Although I feel slightly upset as the position is filled up now, I applaud the selection process and the nice experience I had during the informative interview.
It helped me learn a lot about your company and the exemplary work you are doing. I look forward to the nearest opportunity to join your team.
Thanks again,
[Your name]
6. Mail that Seeks Feedback After a Job Rejection Email
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you for your letter informing your decision that you have filled up the position for which I was recently interviewed. I admit a sense of loss after I missed the position, but I appreciate your time, nonetheless, in shortlisting me and calling for the interview.
For me, it is a good opportunity to learn many things about your company and industry during the application process. It has also enhanced my motivation to raise my bar so that I can join your team one day.
I will be grateful to receive your feedback on my candidature so that I can improve my shortcomings. Also, I would request you to please let me know if any new opening comes up suiting my skills.
Your comments can provide me the momentum to reflect upon my skills to put my best foot forward for future applications. Thanking you once again.
Have a great day,
[Your name]
7. Mail with Interesting Points of Appreciation
This particular thank you email after rejection is an example of how you can impress an employer despite rejection with your vigilant observations about market developments that companies can use to tide over the deep competition.
Dear [Name of the recruiter/HR],
I truly enjoyed meeting you during the interview, where you discussed the current demand for unique skills and the need for broadening credentials. I thank you for taking out your valuable time for the interview.
Of course, despite the initial disappointment, I am also delighted at the interaction with you that gave me good insights into the market demands and your company’s mission. I hope you will keep my resume active for future opportunities. I always want to offer my skills to organizations that I admire a lot.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
8. Thank-You Email Raising a New Request After the Rejection
Dear [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you for informing me that you have hired another candidate. While I am disappointed that I was not selected, I am grateful to you for the time you spared to interview me twice.
It is heartening to learn that you chose a new candidate on the grounds of higher merit. I would appreciate it if you could give me some feedback to address my limitations and make an effort and take some training to boost my skill sets.
Again, I thank you for the congenial and informative interview. I must record my appreciation of your nice office culture and etiquette and that you consider me for future positions that may match my skill sets.
Best regards,
[Your name]
9. One Smart Thank You Letter After Job Rejection
This thank you email after rejection is very candid and expresses a sincere willingness to improve the candidature. A positive attitude towards attaining more excellence will impress any employer.
Dear [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you so much for the update on your hiring decision. I admit that I am slightly disappointed and hoped the news could have been different. But I appreciate your time in speaking with me, and I also feel obliged about the subtle guidance and new insights gained during the interview process.
I still expect I can find some matching roles in your company that may arise in the future. If I can ask you one more favor, please spare a few minutes to reflect on my cover letter, resume, presentation, and interview performance and share that opinion with me. This will help me polish my skills and make me more confident.
Thanks again,
[Your Name]
10. A Sweet Thank You Letter Despite Rejection
Hi [Name of the recruiter/HR],
Thank you very much for your letter on the hiring decision. Of course, I am moderately sad at the rejection, but my happiness is beyond words that I interacted with you at the interview and understood some new concepts from your comments.
I will be too delighted to offer any help in the future. Hope you will keep my CV under consideration for any matching vacancies shortly.
Best Regards,
[Your name]
Long-Term Benefits of a Thank You Letter
Indeed, your thank you email after rejection will not fetch a job. But it will expand your networking skills and open up fresh channels of future opportunities.
Naturally, writing a thank you mail after rejection will look odd. So the process of writing an email to the hiring manager will not be an enthusiastic chore. But remember, a thank you note is not an expression of gratitude but a diplomatic stealth mission. The thank you email will build your network, open new job opportunities, and solicit some free critique on your skills and candidacy.
Make the Thank You Letter a Tool for Relation-Building
The follow-up after a rejection email can undoubtedly start a positive relationship with that employer. Naturally, many applicants who received the rejection email will not bother to send a response. So, a gracious reply to rejection will make you stand out among the crowd of applicants.
That is why a follow-up email after a job rejection is valuable as a tool to build a cozy relationship with the hiring manager with your gestures of appreciation, professional attitude, and earnestness to work for them.
A memorable candidate with flashes of professionalism enjoys an edge over competitors for future roles. A polite response to rejection will highlight your impressive personality in case the applicant hired is not joining the position or is leaving after a short stint.
Remember that hiring managers always look for the recent candidate pool to fill up new positions. That is where your thank you email after rejection will have the potential to convert a lost opportunity into a new or deferred opportunity.
